CYPRUS: Agios Neophytos Monastery

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Agios Neophytos Monastery lies 10 km outside Paphos, near Tala village. Agios (means Saint) Neophytos was the founder of the monastery in 1159. He lived there (from 1170) and died in 1219 at the age of 85. He is considered to be one of the most significant figures of the Church of Cyprus.

Inside the Engleistra (place of seclusion near the monastery) Saint Neophytos led a hermit’s life until 1170. The Engleistra was initially a natural cave on the eastern side of a hill’s slope, and was carved into a place of seclusion by St. Neophytos. It consisted of two areas. One area was a small chapel dedicated to Timios Stavros ( Holy Cross) and the other was the Saint’s cell, in which he also carved his tomb.

A famous painter, Theodoros Apsevdis, undertook to paint the frescoes in the Engleistra. You can also can see Byzantine icons of exceptional artistic quality in the main church of the monastery. Or in the museum of the monastery, which has exhibits from both the ancient period and Byzantine period.

The main church of the monastery was built around 200 years after the death of St. Neophytos and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

May 13, 2015